Koa on the Big Island

Dan [email protected] wrote in
Message-id: <[email protected]>

>Any problems with bringing Koa back home at all? I know it gets shipped and
>I know my size/weight limits at the airline, but my resarch about bringing
>the wood back seems to be contradictory. Some of what I find says it's not
>a problem at all, other sources say there could be problems - worries about
>mold, bugs, disease, etc.

You will have to put your luggage through an agricultural inspection when you
fly back home. I believe they are only looking for pests that might be
transferred to a crop on the mainland. Since koa doesn't grow there I don't
think there will be a problem. I might have a chance to ask about this tomorrow
and I'll post again if I do. You could call the U. S. Department of Agriculture
at (808) 861-8490.

>And if anyone knows anything about these places below, can you recommend
>one that might have good wood, good prices and be willing to cut the pieces
>so they'd fit in the suitcase or reasonable etc?

The Honsador Lumber place here on Kauai supplies mostly wholesale construction
lumber, as far as I can tell from my one visit. Don't immediately rule out the
True Value Hardware store. Big box stores are a new phenomenon in Hawaii, so
the hardware stores have broader product lines. I only recognize one other
name, Winkler. They have a web site here: http://www.interpac.net/~winkler/

You will have to have the wood products inspected by the US Ag Dept. before you
leave the island, regardless of whether you go through Honolulu or not. Don't
forget to have every board-inch of the wood accounted for in your receipts from
whatever sources you buy from.

There may be quantity-time limits.

> Any problems with bringing Koa back home at all? I know it gets shipped
and
> I know my size/weight limits at the airline, but my resarch about bringing
> the wood back seems to be contradictory. Some of what I find says it's not
> a problem at all, other sources say there could be problems - worries
about
> mold, bugs, disease, etc.

Call the federal and your state's departments of agriculture, throw in
Hawaii's
for good measure, they'll know the answers.
California, which you likely pass through, is one of the states with
annoying
agricultural import laws. You might put it all in a giant zip lock bag as
you
pass through.

I got stopped at a California border station while on vacation out that way,
I had to declare all the fruits and vegetables in my cooler but the boarder
guard ended up just telling me to keep them all and sending me on my way.

I think it is the same prices you mentioned before. Like I said, It would be
the Ag. people that would give you a hard time.Ask and the people might ship
it for you. They do all the paperwork stuff. I got a little pineapple that
was real cool, bright pink past 3 Ag. stops on 3 different island. Made it
back to the US with it. I picked it in Oahu, then went to Kauai with it ,
then Maui then home. Turned out rotten when we cut it. You might have to
have the wood fumigated to bring it here, to the U. S..
Koa has some silica in it but not as bad as Teak.
Watch your cutters, it will dull them fairly fast.
Make friends with the big Hawaiian boys there and they might take you up to
where the Koas grow. Don't dress like a howlie. Wear flip- flops and plain
old shorts and a white tee shirt, your in like flynn.DON'T wear a flowery
ass hawaiin shirt !
Be cool brudder !
"Dan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Sun 21 Dec 2003 02:38:35p, "FOW" <[email protected]> wrote in
> news:[email protected]:
>
> > I'm not sure of this, but I don't think you'll make it through customs
> > with any. Bug thing ya know. Lot o Termites over there.Check with USDA
> > first. Most of the really curly stuff comes from Kauai. I spent 4
> > months on the islands , but did not see more than 3-4 Koa trees
> > growing.
>
> What I found in researching says that just about all Koa now comes from
the
> big island. Curly coming from Kauai does kinda fit in with that since it's
> more than twice the price of "regular" koa.
>
> >Besides that stuff is heavy, how much can ya get in your
> > luggage anyway? Good luck.
>
> 50 pounds with no dimension over 5 feet, and 80 bucks for every additional
> checked bag. :-)
> Unless I ship it. Then it's the going rate and I won't know what that is
> till I get there. I'm taking one bag's worth in two bags on the way over,
> two bags right at the weight limit on the way back, plus whatever we can
> fit in SWMBO's. All this assuming I won't run into ag laws and
koa-sniffing
> dogs. And I WILL certainly be asking around to make sure it's legal. I
have
> a feeling the lumber sellers are familiar with this question. Just a
hunch.
>
> I had thought maybe I could cut some off some fallen koa trees on our
> friend's property but found out those trees were salvaged a long time ago.
> So what I'll come back with will be store-bought dried lumber with a
> receipt and everything.
>
> Since they ship that stuff to the mainland all the time there MUST be a
way
> around the regs, assuming they exist for koa. Fruit's a different story.
> Those things are bug cities. Dried lumber *might* be different. I've seen
> the species list for dangerous materials, and koa was listed but there
were
> no warnings or forbidden zones or anything like that.
>
> > I think they waste a lot of Koa over in the Islands.
> > I've seen baseboard made out of it, pity.
>
> Doesn't surprise me. If I was a local, I'd use whatever was at hand. Of
> course if the prices over there have risen like they have here, that
> baseboard was probably put in over ten years ago. Everything I find says
> the price of koa skyrocketed just about the turn of the century.
>
> Dan

On Sun 21 Dec 2003 02:38:35p, "FOW" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

> I'm not sure of this, but I don't think you'll make it through customs
> with any. Bug thing ya know. Lot o Termites over there.Check with USDA
> first. Most of the really curly stuff comes from Kauai. I spent 4
> months on the islands , but did not see more than 3-4 Koa trees
> growing.

What I found in researching says that just about all Koa now comes from the
big island. Curly coming from Kauai does kinda fit in with that since it's
more than twice the price of "regular" koa.

>Besides that stuff is heavy, how much can ya get in your
> luggage anyway? Good luck.

50 pounds with no dimension over 5 feet, and 80 bucks for every additional
checked bag. :-)
Unless I ship it. Then it's the going rate and I won't know what that is
till I get there. I'm taking one bag's worth in two bags on the way over,
two bags right at the weight limit on the way back, plus whatever we can
fit in SWMBO's. All this assuming I won't run into ag laws and koa-sniffing
dogs. And I WILL certainly be asking around to make sure it's legal. I have
a feeling the lumber sellers are familiar with this question. Just a hunch.

I had thought maybe I could cut some off some fallen koa trees on our
friend's property but found out those trees were salvaged a long time ago.
So what I'll come back with will be store-bought dried lumber with a
receipt and everything.

Since they ship that stuff to the mainland all the time there MUST be a way
around the regs, assuming they exist for koa. Fruit's a different story.
Those things are bug cities. Dried lumber *might* be different. I've seen
the species list for dangerous materials, and koa was listed but there were
no warnings or forbidden zones or anything like that.

> I think they waste a lot of Koa over in the Islands.
> I've seen baseboard made out of it, pity.

Doesn't surprise me. If I was a local, I'd use whatever was at hand. Of
course if the prices over there have risen like they have here, that
baseboard was probably put in over ten years ago. Everything I find says
the price of koa skyrocketed just about the turn of the century.

Dan

On Sun 21 Dec 2003 05:36:40p, "Gene T" <[email protected]> wrote
in news:[email protected]:

> Hi Dan, Any koa you take back has to be dry and not have any bark on
> it.

Wahoo! Thanks a million Gene, you just saved me several days of worryin' at
least.

>Your prices on select is probaly in line but I think the curly
> will be higher.

I'd much rather have it that way than the other way round. I probably
wouldn't be able to swing more than $300, maybe more if SWMBO and I have a
little heart-to-heart. At 15 a bf that's only 20 feet or so. The luthiers
can have the curly.

>I'm not familiar with most of the suppliers in yur
> list but I know that Winkler Woods in Hilo went our of business, but
> there is another store I believe in the Kona area that is still around
> under the Winkler name. Gene

No telling how old the list is, but there are enough to be pretty sure I'll
find at least one, and maybe enough to compare prices. :-)

Thanks again, Gene. That helped.

Dan

On Sun 21 Dec 2003 09:24:34p, "FOW" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

> Koa has some silica in it but not as bad as Teak.
> Watch your cutters, it will dull them fairly fast.

Huh! Now that never came up in any of the research I did.

> Make friends with the big Hawaiian boys there and they might take you
> up to where the Koas grow. Don't dress like a howlie. Wear flip- flops
> and plain old shorts and a white tee shirt, your in like flynn.DON'T
> wear a flowery ass hawaiin shirt !

The shorts and t-shirt isn't a problem, that's my normal summer attire at
the office, but I draw the line at flip-flops. They flip off when they
flop and I belt-sand my big toe on the concrete. The only sandals I can
wear all day are my four-year-old Tevas. I sure hope that's ok.

I thought those flower shirts were like, mandatory dress code at
restaurants out there.

Dan

Hi Dan, Any koa you take back has to be dry and not have any bark on it.
Your prices on select is probaly in line but I think the curly will be
higher. I'm not familiar with most of the suppliers in yur list but I know
that Winkler Woods in Hilo went our of business, but there is another store
I believe in the Kona area that is still around under the Winkler name.
Gene
"Dan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Through a fortuitous sequence of coincidences, we are going to spend two
> weeks in Hawaii in early January. First vacation in decades, we feel lucky
> and are very grateful.
>
> So. I'd like to pick up as much Koa as I can haul back in an empty
suitcase
> or reasonable facsimile. Or two. We are going to spend the whole time on
> the Big Island. Not coming in through Honolulu. Most of our time is
planned
> but there'll be enough time to get bored now and then. Below is a list
I've
> found for lumber suppliers on the island.
>
> We'll be spending at least some time in Hilo, perhaps quite a bit of time
> and there are several suppliers there, so that's good. What I haven't been
> able to determine conclusively is:
>
> Any problems with bringing Koa back home at all? I know it gets shipped
and
> I know my size/weight limits at the airline, but my resarch about bringing
> the wood back seems to be contradictory. Some of what I find says it's not
> a problem at all, other sources say there could be problems - worries
about
> mold, bugs, disease, etc.
>
> And if anyone knows anything about these places below, can you recommend
> one that might have good wood, good prices and be willing to cut the
pieces
> so they'd fit in the suitcase or reasonable etc?
>
> Based on what I can find for prices, it looks like Koa select will be in
> the $13 - $15 range per bf and curly will be well over $30/bf. Select will
> be just fine, thanks. I might even go with just the plain for some of it.
> Do those prices sound current? Can't seem to find dates on those prices
> after 2001.
>
> I know I can find out the answers to these questions with some phone calls
> after we get there, and I've sent a few emails to some of the companies
> below. I wasn't going to post this, but then I thought maybe I (and
perhaps
> someone else, sometime) could learn a little more from this group than
what
> I'd get asking around once I get there. If not, then I wasted a little
> time.
>
> Thanks,
> Dan.
>
> List from:
> http://www.thestateofhawaii.com/lumber/
>
> Argus Building Supply 107 Makaala St Hilo, HI (808) 933-9441
>
> Don's Firewood PO Box 483 Volcano, HI (808) 967-7167
>
> Hawaiian Hardwoods & Furniture 200 Kanoelehua Ave # 204 Hilo, HI (808)
935-
> 5527
>
> Honsador Lumber Corp 100 Kukila St Hilo, HI (808) 961-6000
>
> Hpm Building Supply 380 Kanoelehua Ave Hilo, HI (808) 935-0875
>
> Island Cedar Source 13-3541 Alapai St Pahoa, HI (808) 965-6318
>
> Multi-Facetted Homes 15-2034 17th Makuu Keaau, HI (808) 982-6647
>
> Pierson Building Supplies 16-207 Wiliama Pl Keaau, HI (808) 966-7458
>
> True Value Hardware 199 Makaala St Hilo, HI (808) 935-9711
>
> Winkler Wood Products Inc 187 Silva St Hilo, HI (808) 961-6411
>
> Woodcutter Tree Service 41 Pamala Pl Hilo, HI (808) 959-3367

I'm not sure of this, but I don't think you'll make it through customs with
any. Bug thing ya know. Lot o Termites over there.Check with USDA first.
Most of the really curly stuff comes from Kauai. I spent 4 months on the
islands , but did not see more than 3-4 Koa trees growing.
Besides that stuff is heavy, how much can ya get in your luggage anyway?
Good luck.
I think they waste a lot of Koa over in the Islands.
I've seen baseboard made out of it, pity.

"Dan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Through a fortuitous sequence of coincidences, we are going to spend two
> weeks in Hawaii in early January. First vacation in decades, we feel lucky
> and are very grateful.
>
> So. I'd like to pick up as much Koa as I can haul back in an empty
suitcase
> or reasonable facsimile. Or two. We are going to spend the whole time on
> the Big Island. Not coming in through Honolulu. Most of our time is
planned
> but there'll be enough time to get bored now and then. Below is a list
I've
> found for lumber suppliers on the island.
>
> We'll be spending at least some time in Hilo, perhaps quite a bit of time
> and there are several suppliers there, so that's good. What I haven't been
> able to determine conclusively is:
>
> Any problems with bringing Koa back home at all? I know it gets shipped
and
> I know my size/weight limits at the airline, but my resarch about bringing
> the wood back seems to be contradictory. Some of what I find says it's not
> a problem at all, other sources say there could be problems - worries
about
> mold, bugs, disease, etc.
>
> And if anyone knows anything about these places below, can you recommend
> one that might have good wood, good prices and be willing to cut the
pieces
> so they'd fit in the suitcase or reasonable etc?
>
> Based on what I can find for prices, it looks like Koa select will be in
> the $13 - $15 range per bf and curly will be well over $30/bf. Select will
> be just fine, thanks. I might even go with just the plain for some of it.
> Do those prices sound current? Can't seem to find dates on those prices
> after 2001.
>
> I know I can find out the answers to these questions with some phone calls
> after we get there, and I've sent a few emails to some of the companies
> below. I wasn't going to post this, but then I thought maybe I (and
perhaps
> someone else, sometime) could learn a little more from this group than
what
> I'd get asking around once I get there. If not, then I wasted a little
> time.
>
> Thanks,
> Dan.
>
> List from:
> http://www.thestateofhawaii.com/lumber/
>
> Argus Building Supply 107 Makaala St Hilo, HI (808) 933-9441
>
> Don's Firewood PO Box 483 Volcano, HI (808) 967-7167
>
> Hawaiian Hardwoods & Furniture 200 Kanoelehua Ave # 204 Hilo, HI (808)
935-
> 5527
>
> Honsador Lumber Corp 100 Kukila St Hilo, HI (808) 961-6000
>
> Hpm Building Supply 380 Kanoelehua Ave Hilo, HI (808) 935-0875
>
> Island Cedar Source 13-3541 Alapai St Pahoa, HI (808) 965-6318
>
> Multi-Facetted Homes 15-2034 17th Makuu Keaau, HI (808) 982-6647
>
> Pierson Building Supplies 16-207 Wiliama Pl Keaau, HI (808) 966-7458
>
> True Value Hardware 199 Makaala St Hilo, HI (808) 935-9711
>
> Winkler Wood Products Inc 187 Silva St Hilo, HI (808) 961-6411
>
> Woodcutter Tree Service 41 Pamala Pl Hilo, HI (808) 959-3367

Snatch up some of that Mango Wood.......Sweet !
"DavidS9223" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Dan [email protected] wrote in
> Message-id: <[email protected]>
>
> >Any problems with bringing Koa back home at all? I know it gets shipped
and
> >I know my size/weight limits at the airline, but my resarch about
bringing
> >the wood back seems to be contradictory. Some of what I find says it's
not
> >a problem at all, other sources say there could be problems - worries
about
> >mold, bugs, disease, etc.
>
> You will have to put your luggage through an agricultural inspection when
you
> fly back home. I believe they are only looking for pests that might be
> transferred to a crop on the mainland. Since koa doesn't grow there I
don't
> think there will be a problem. I might have a chance to ask about this
tomorrow
> and I'll post again if I do. You could call the U. S. Department of
Agriculture
> at (808) 861-8490.
>
> >And if anyone knows anything about these places below, can you recommend
> >one that might have good wood, good prices and be willing to cut the
pieces
> >so they'd fit in the suitcase or reasonable etc?
>
> The Honsador Lumber place here on Kauai supplies mostly wholesale
construction
> lumber, as far as I can tell from my one visit. Don't immediately rule out
the
> True Value Hardware store. Big box stores are a new phenomenon in Hawaii,
so
> the hardware stores have broader product lines. I only recognize one other
> name, Winkler. They have a web site here:
http://www.interpac.net/~winkler/
>
>

Talk to an Ag inspector in Hawaii. I sent some ginger from there, had
it inspected first and all went well.

I also brought plants from Malaysia, had them inspected at the sorse,
no problems.




--

- Charles
-
-does not play well with others